Iona Takes Two from Softball in MAAC Action

Iona senior Jodi Petersen hit a walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth in game one and sophomore pitcher Carly Argyle picked up two wins in the circle as the host Gaels swept Canisius in a MAAC doubleheader in New Rochelle, N.Y., on Saturday afternoon. Iona moved to 11-33 on the year and 7-5 with the MAAC wins, while the Griffs saw their losing streak move to four straight as the team fell to 21-20 overall and 6-6 in league action.

GAME ONE - Iona 3, Canisius 2 (9 innings)Iona senior Jodi Petersen led off the home half of the ninth to lift the host Gaels to a 3-2 extra-inning win at Rice Oval. Canisius jumped on the scoreboard first after sophomore Robin Kennery knocked in a pair with a base hit back up the middle in the top of the third. The Blue and Gold actually had the bases load with one out in the third after Kennery's hit, Argyle got out of a jam with a line-drive double play to end the frame.

The Gaels scored a single run in the fourth and tied the game at 2-2 in the fifth when senior Beth Kann scored from second base on a fielding error by the Griffs. Kennery and junior Valorie Nappo racked up two hits apiece in the loss for Canisius, which has now dropped four-straight to Iona in New Rochelle, N.Y. and three-straight overall, dating back to last season. Freshman Alexis Roman had a hit and scored a run in the game one loss, while senior hurler Amanda Baun was charged with the loss. Baun went a season best eight innings and allowed six hits while walking six and striking out five.

GAME TWO - Iona 8, Canisius 1Iona took an early 5-0 lead after three innings and never looked back as the Gaels swept the series with an 8-1 over Canisius. The key hit in the third was a two-run single by Iona sophomore Allison Hand that pushed the score to 5-0 in favor of the home team.

Canisius scored its only run in the top of the fourth when freshman Tori Nappo posted her 21st RBI of the season with a base that that allowed teammate Bethany DeMarco to score. Sophomore Michelle DelPrince went 2-for-2 with a walk in the loss for Canisius, while freshman Megan Cuda and sophomore Marissa Miller also recorded hits. Junior Jen Consaul took the loss for Canisius to fall to 15-9 on the year. She allowed five runs on six hits to go with three walks in three innings of work before she was lifted for releiver Jenn Solis.

The Griffs will return to action Sunday, April 27, when the team plays a MAAC doubleheader at Fairfield. First pitch is set for 11 a.m.